In Instagram post, Ratan Tata flags fake interview recommending investments

Veteran industrialist and former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata on Wednesday issued a 'fake' notice for misusing his name on social media to 'exaggerate investments' with risk-free and 100 percent guarantee.

In a post on Instagram, Tata called out a post by a user named Sona Agrawal, which used a fake interview of his in a video recommending investments.

In the fake video, Tata addresses Sona Agrawal as his manager.

“A recommendation from Ratan Tata for everyone in India. This is your chance to exaggerate your investment today risk-free with 100 percent guarantee. Hit the channel right now,” the caption of the video post read.

The video also showed messages from people receiving money into their accounts.

According to sources, the government on Tuesday held another round of meetings with social media platforms to “review” the progress they have made in tackling the deepfake problem.

Platforms have been clearly told that the eleven 'user harms' or 'illegalities' flagged under the IT Rules have in fact also been assigned to equivalent provisions in the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and therefore there are criminal penalties even under the current laws consequences exist.

It is pertinent to mention that Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for IT and Electronics, had met the representatives of social media platforms on November 24 and the companies were given seven days to take firm action against deepfakes and revise their terms of use to bring one line. IT rules.

According to sources, a follow-up meeting was held on Tuesday with social media platforms to review progress after the November 24 meeting.

While some platforms have complied, others that were 'slow' to do so have been given extra time.

The government made clear at Tuesday's meeting that it will continue its “zero tolerance approach” to user harm.

While many platforms have shown a clear understanding of what is the right thing to do and are adapting quickly, some platforms have shown lethargy, the sources pointed out.

A final meeting with platforms will take place in seven days to take stock.

IT regulations and legislation clearly require platforms to address harm and ensure that users on the platforms are well aware of what is illegal and what is not.

The responsibility for achieving this lies entirely with the platforms.

At Tuesday's meeting, the platforms were clearly told that there are criminal consequences for such user harm, even under existing laws.

Citing an example of this, sources say a section under CRPC allows prosecution for deepfakes under “forgery”. Similarly, other forms of harm are subject to equivalent provisions under the IPC.

“No platform that is used to doing nothing about harm would like to be told that we are going to take a 'zero tolerance' approach to harm… Those who are slower (to act), we have given a little more time, but we Certainly not to give them the feeling that we are going to relax the government's approach to making the internet safe and secure for all Indians,” the source said.